Coin-controlled mechanism.



lPMENIED lAUG. 18, 1908 H. BUCHOLTSSA a J. R. JONES. COIN GONTROLLEDMEGHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 3, 19084.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

l PATENTED AUG. 18, 1908.

H. W. NICHOLES & J. R. JON-ES.

GOIN CONTROLLED MECHANISM. APPLIGATIQN FILED JAN. 3, 1908.v

@Lvih'aeoam No. 896,235. PATENTED AUG. 18, 1908.

H. W. NIGHOLES J. R. JONES. GOIN CONTROLLED MEOHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 3, 1908.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Wi h1 aan:

UNITED sTATns PATENT oFFioE.

HERBERT WHIT'IER NICHOLES AND JOHN REECE JONES, OF ATLANTA, GEORGIA,ASSIGNORS TO VENDING SHOWCASE COMPANY, OF ROME, GEORGIA.

COIN-CONTROLLED MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Y Patented Aug. 18, 1908.

` Application filed January 3, 1908. Serial No. 409,138.

To all 'whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that we, HERBERT WHITTER NIoHoLEs and JOHN RnEcE JONES,citizens of the United States, residing at Atlanta, in the county ofFulton and State of Georgia, have invented a new and useful Coin-Con-Vtrolled Mechanism, ofY which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to coin controlled mechanism for vendingmachines, and more especially to machines of that class em loyed forQthesale of cigars and other small o jects.-

The principal object of the invention is to provide a coin controlledmechanism of very simple construction, for the purpose of unlocking orreleasing a selecting and delivering device vby which the articles aredischarged from the machine.

A further object of the invention is to provide a mechanism of thisclass in which the deposited coin serves as a iixed cam to coact with amovable cam in eecting the movement of the parts to released position.

With these and other objects, in view, the

invention comprises the various novel features of construction andcombination of parts, which will be hereinafter more fully described,and pointed out particularly in the ap ended claims.

In t e accompanying drawingsz-Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of avending machine provided with coin controlled mechanism constructed inaccordance with 'the invention. Fig. 2 is a sectional plan view of themachine. Fig. 3 is a detail pers ective view showing the 'selectingtongs and t e tong su port. Fig. 4 is a vertical section through t ecoin slot. Fi 5 is a sectional plan view illustrating a s ightmodification of the invention, the machine being provided with two setsof selecting tongs, one of which is released and allowed to operate onthe insertion of a nickel, while the other may be unlocked on theinsertion of a quarter dollar and then allowed to operate six times, sothat six cigars or other articles may be purchased at one time. Fig. 6is a detail view of aportion of the mechanismfor locking the second setof tongs. Fig. 7 is a detail view of the locking wheel detached. Fig. 8is a vertical section through the slot in which the quarter dollar isplaced.

Corresponding parts in the several iigures are/indicated throughout bysimilar characters of reference.

The working parts of the machine are arranged within a suitable casing10 that is formed principally of glass panels in order that theoperation of the parts may be at all times in view.

Mounted in suitable bearings in the casing is a shaft 11 carrying aFerris wheel 12 which supports a number of cigar boxes or otherreceptacles 14. The Ferris wheel may be turned in any suitable mannerlin order to bring any one oi the boxes to a se-v lecting position at thefront of the casing.

Extending across the front of the casing is a horizontally disposed slot25 in which is arranged a horizontal guide rod 26, and depending fromthe guide rod is a flat plate 27 that extends down parallel with theinner wall 0i the casing and preferably is held in contact v therewithby a small strip spring 28, although thisy will not be required wherethe machine is so supported or locked as to prevent tilting. The upperend of the plate 27 is provided with a pair of spaced outwardlyturned/lugs having openings for the passage of the rod 26, and betweenthese lugs is arranged a collar 32 that is pivoted on the rod andcarries a small sleeve 33 of link-like form in cross section. Throughthe sleeve 33 slides a pair oi tongs 34 that preferably are formed offlat spring wire, the strip of which the tongs are made being preferablybent to form a handle 35 that is located outside the box or casing andis to be grasped and manipulated by the intending purchaser. The innerends of the tongs are turned downward, Jforming jaws 36 which normallyare held in open position by the inherent elasticity of the wire. Thetongs are slidably'mounted in the sleeve 33 and may be readily moved toand fro on the rod 26, while the pivotal connection of the sleeve withthe rod will permit swinging movement of the tongs in a vertical plane,so that the tongs may be readily manipulated in the examination andselection of cigars or other articles in the boxes 14.` The yplate 27 isnormally held from movement to the left by a stop 40 projecting'irom theinner face of the Jfront of the casing, and to release the v the tongs34, pushes the plate 27 to the left,

move the tongs to yselecting position, it becomes necessary to deposit acoin or check.

For this purpose, the front of the casing hasV a slotrfilinto nwhichracoin may be inserted,

and the coin fallsdown, turns ytofavertical position, and its edgestrikes against the inner face of the plate 27 and forces the sameoutward so that the plate may clear the Stop ;..."A

The inner face ofthe plate is provided-with a cam 42 against which thecoins-strike, and; the coin thereupon becomes slightly wedged betweenthis cam and the inner wall of the s lot, so ythat when the purchaser,graspingV the camwill ride against the'projecting edge of the coin andthe plate will clear the stop,

so that the selectingk tongs may be moved over the cigar box. The rearface of the stop Y, 40 is inclined, forming a cam over which the righthand edge of the plate 27 may readily ride when the plate is moved tothe'right.

When the tongs have been moved over. theV cigar box, they maybe readilymanipulated for the. purpose of raising the cigars for examination, andwhen one that suits the purchaser is found, itis raised by the tongs andthe latter are moved toward the right together with the plate 27, sothat said plate will pass beyond the straight shoulder of the stop 40and the plate cannot then be returned for another selecting operationuntil after the insertion of another coin, it being understood that thepreviously deposited coin falls from the slot as soon as the plate 27 inmoving to the left has cleared such slot.

Arranged within the main casing is a ar- I tition 48 that is disposedbetween one si e of the revolving carrier and the delivery slide orchute 4,9, which latter terminates in al drawer or. trough 50 into whichthe selected` cigar is delivered. When the operator movesY the tongsback tothe right, the tongs remain over this chute, andwhen the tongsare re- Y leased, the. cigar falls bygravity vto the delivery point. Asbefore stated, it is then impossible to again move the tongs and plateto. selecting position until after the deposit of another coin or check.

The machine is preferably so arranged as to permit the purchase of asingle cigar on'.

' slot 55' formed in a Wheel or disk 56 that is mounted on a short shaftor arbor 57 carriedy by the frame of the machine. The disk 56 isprovided with a series of teeth or indentations 58 which are arranged tobe engaged 65 byY a pawl 59 that is carried by the plate 27',

and each time the plate2'7 is lmoved for the: purpose of selectingacigar, the pawl will. engage with one of they teeth or indentations andwill turn the disk to the extent of onesixth ofV a revolution. After sixcomplete movements and the selecting and removal of .n six cigars;` thedisk will have been moved through a complete revolution and the pin 54may reenter the slot 55, thus locking the 75 plate 27 andpreventingfurther movement of thetongs until after the insertion of an#4other quarterdollar.

We claim 1. In coin controlledmechanism, a ivot-'S ally and sl'idablymounted plateA a t1 table` sleeve carried thereby a pair ofselectingtongs slidably mounted in said sleeve, a stop disposed in the path ofmovement of the plate, and a coin engaged cam arranged on 85 said plate,said cam serving by contact with the edge of an inserted cointo swingthe edge of the plate beyond the stop.

2. In coin controlled mechanism, a ivotallyk and slidably mounted platea At1 table90 sleeve` carried thereby a pair of selecting tongs slidablymountedin said sleeve, a cas-y ing having a coin chute arranged todirect the edge of-a coin into engagement with the plate,

a stop normally limiting the movement of the plate in one direction, anda coin engag-H ing cam carried bythe plate and serving dur ingy the.sliding movement 'of the plate to swing thel latter. outward` clear ofthe sto 3. In a machine of the class describe, horizontallyslottedcasing, a horizontal rod arranged within the` slot, aplatehaving-forwardly bent pivot lugs provided with open--l ings for vthepassage ofi the. rod, a tiltable sleeve also mounted on the, rod andmovable with the plate a pair of selecting tongsv slid-l ably mounted insaid sleeve, the casing hav-V ing a coin'chute through which theedgeof-4 the coin may be directed against the plate, a

iixed stcp for limiting movement-of the plate lilin one irection, and acoin engaging cam carried by the plate and serving during the sliding.movement thereof to swing said plateoutward clearv of the stop.

4. In combination, a pivotally andfslidably mounted plate, aselectingdevice carried thereby, a cam projecting from the plate and arranged toengage an inserted com, a

in or lug projecting from the plate, a revo,-

luble locking. disk slotted for the reception of said pin or lug, andmeans for rotating said disk and moving the slot outof alinement withthe pin.

5; In mechanism of1 the class described, a

plate mounted for pivotal and longitudinal, 1.25 movement, a locking pinprojecting from the plate, a revoluble disk having a slot for the as ourO Wn, We have hereto affixed our signa# reception of the pin,interengaging means On tures in the presence Of two Witnesses.

the plate and disk for effecting revoluble HERBERT WHITTER NIGHOLES.movement of the latter, and a oam projeot- JOHN REECE JONES.

5 ing from the plate and arranged to be en- Witnesses:

gaged by an inserted coin. A. L. BROOKS,

In testimony that We claim the foregoing M. W. BROWN.

